Richmond, Virginia – March 31, 2024
NASCAR Cup Series located to Richmond, Virginia for the Toyota Owners 400 hosted by Richmond International Raceway. This event was the 7th points scheduled race of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Season.
Previous incumbent weather dampened the track, Race teams utilized rain tread tires to start Stage 1 to offset the track moisture.
Throwing down a lap in 22.469 seconds while qualifying, Kyle Larson led the field to green in Richmond.
Toyota Owners 400 – Stage 1 Recap:
Opening Stage 1 Teammates Chase Elliott and Pole Sitter Kyle Larson interchanged the top position until Kyle took control on lap 6. Kyle Larson led the field until NASCAR’s mandated Competition Caution was waved 30 Laps into Stage 1. Bubba Wallace was the next pursuant to the lead, overtaking Kyle Larson as they emerged from the Competition Caution. Kyle Larson bought time and strategically sharpshot under Wallace to recapture the lead. The first yellow flag flew compliments of Daniel Suarez’s assisted spin on Lap 64 which welcomed the caution that covered the completion of the Stage. Under Caution Kyle Larson was awarded the Stage 1 Win at Richmond Raceway.
Toyota Owners 400 -Stage 1 Results:
1. Kyle Larson
2. Bubba Wallace
3. Alex Bowman
4. Martin Truex Jr
5. Joey Logano
6. Todd Gilliland
7. Chase Elliott
8. Ross Chastain
9. Josh Berry
10. Ryan Preece
Toyota Owners 400 – Stage 2 Recap:
Opening Stage 2 Kyle Larson muscled around Bubba Wallace to return to the lead. Kyle relinquished his position to attend green flag pit service on Lap 150. Cup Champion Martin Truex Jr. stayed out and cycled to the lead. Kyle Larson’s pit strategy was interrupted by a Kyle Bush confrontation with the safety barrier wall. The caution was out allowing pit service under yellow for teams to take advantage of. Martin Truex Jr. continued to lead the field out of the pit in the final Stage 2 caution onward to Stage 2 honors at RIR.
Toyota Owners 400 – Stage 2 Results:
1. Martin Truex Jr
2. Josh Berry
3. Joey Logano
4. Kyle Larson
5. Denny Hamlin
6. Christopher Bell
7. Chris Buescher
8. Bubba Wallace
9. William Byron
10. Tyler Reddick
Toyota Owners 400 – Final Stage Recap:
Opening the Final Stage Martin Truex Jr. had the upper hand and was able to keep Denny Hamlin and Kyle Larson in his rear-view mirror. Many race teams understanding low caution flags invited green flag pit stops. With only 63 Laps remaining in Final Stage, pit crews attended green flag pit service. Last year’s Event winner Kyle Larson inherited the lead through strategic pit cycle circulation.
On a mission, Martin Truex Jr. reeled in Larson within 2 laps after pit service. Unfortunately, Larson’s car handling was an emerging issue making the chances for checkers dim. Bubba Wallace tagged a loose handing Kyle Larson machine spinning Kyle out of control in Turn 4 in front of approaching traffic with 2 Laps remaining, forcing Overtime.
Final Stage Overtime, Race dominators Martin Truex Jr. and Denny Hamlin battled for the post. Denny used Martin Truex Jr., running his teammate wide in Turn 4 on the Overtime restart.
Denny survived the slide job and captured the lead from Truex Jr. to his dismay.
Denny Hamlin stole the show winning his 3rd NASCAR Cup race of the 2024 campaign at Richmond International Raceway.
Post race activities involved Martin Truex Jr. employing his Chrome Horn to express his racetrack displeasures unto Teammate and Event Winner Denny Hamlin and fellow driver Kyle Larson.
Toyota Owners 400
Richmond Raceway
March 29, 2024
Race Results:
1. Denny Hamlin
2. Joey Logano
3. Kyle Larson
4. Martin Truex Jr
5. Chase Elliott
6. Christopher Bell
7. William Byron
8. Brad Keselowski
9. Chris Buescher
10. Tyler Reddick
11. Josh Berry
12. Noah Gragson
13. Bubba Wallace
14. Erik Jones
15. Ross Chastain
16. Ty Gibbs
17. Alex Bowman
18. Chase Briscoe
19. Ryan Blaney
20. Kyle Busch
21. Todd Gilliland
22. Daniel Suarez
23. Austin Cindric
24. Austin Dillon
25. John Hunter Nemechek
26. Michael McDowell
27. Carson Hocevar
28. Ryan Preece
29. Ty Dillon
30. Daniel Hemric
31. Kaz Grala
32. Justin Haley
33. Ricky Stenhouse Jr
34. Harrison Burton
35. Zane Smith
36. Corey LaJoie
NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Points
{after Toyota Owners 400 3/29/2024}
Pos | Driver | Points | Wins
1. Martin Truex Jr | 270
2. Kyle Larson | -14 | 1 Win
3. Denny Hamlin | -18 | 2 Wins
4. Ty Gibbs | -34
5. Ryan Blaney | -41
6. Christopher Bell | -51 | 1 Win
7. William Byron | -55 | 2 Wins
8. Chase Elliott | -61
9. Ross Chastain | -85
10. Tyler Reddick | -71
11. Alex Bowman | -77
12. Chris Buescher | -85
13. Kyle Busch | -103
14. Bubba Wallace | -105
15. Daniel Suarez | -107 | 1 Win
16. Brad Keselowski | -107
17. John Hunter Nemechek | -114
18. Chase Briscoe | -120
19. Joey Logano | -121
20. Austin Cindric | -137
21. Michael McDowell | -140
22. Erik Jones | -141
23. Josh Berry | -156
24. Carson Hocevar | -165
25. Ricky Stenhouse Jr | -168
26. Todd Gilliland | -168
27. Corey LaJoie | -170
28. Austin Dillon | -180
29. Daniel Hemric | -184
30. Noah Gragson | -186
31. Ryan Preece | -186
32. Justin Haley | -192
33. Kaz Grala | -199
34. Harrison Burton | -202
35. Zane Smith | -209
36. David Ragan | -253
The NASCAR Cup Series remains in Commonwealth of Virginia for the running of Cook Out 400 hosted by Martinsville Speedway.
Sunday, April 9th, 2024, 3:00 p.m.
FS1 Sirius-XM Nascar 90
